Best practice for an FASD assessment is done by a multi-disciplinary team including a paediatrician, neuropsychologist, and ideally a speech therapist and occupational therapist. Few District Health Boards across New Zealand have assessment teams able to provide FASD assessments. If your client is unable to get a full assessment, they can request a neuro-developmental assessment by a paediatrician or a qualified neuropsychologist who is trained in diagnosing FASD. 

Assessors will need credible information about prenatal alcohol exposure. It is important that such information is sensitively gathered and used in a way that does not stigmatise the mother. Alcohol use is a societally promoted activity and around 50% of pregnancies in Aotearoa are unplanned – since pregnant women may not know they are pregnant for up to three months, it is not uncommon for their babies to be exposed to alcohol. But not every prenatally exposed child will have FASD. Each situation is unique and needs to be dealt with as such. 

Assessors will also benefit from having information regarding the child’s early developmental history, including early childhood and school reports and/or previous medical records. A diagnosis of FASD should not be ruled out unless or until a full neurodevelopmental assessment is completed. This may mean waiting until the child is older than seven years of age when executive function is mature enough to assess.